Currently Illinois requires a social security number to obtain a driver’s license. This means that there are some 250,000 undocumented drivers who cannot obtain a valid driver’s license – and therefore, auto insurance. But we know that they are driving every day because they need to get to work, take their kids to school, shop at grocery stores, or go to church.

Before my two terms as Illinois governor I served as the Illinois secretary of state, where highway safety was my top priority. I know that we are all safer when every driver on the road is trained, tested, licensed, and insured.

Under the current situation those of us with auto insurance subsidize those who are uninsured. If just half of the 250,000 unlicensed immigrants get licensed and insured, then Illinois policyholders will save $46 million per year in policy payments.

Illinois currently offers a Temporary Visitor Driver’s License to immigrants with non-work visas.

The TVDL’s are visually distinct, with a purple background. They are marked on the front that they are not valid for identification (meaning that they cannot be used to vote, purchase a firearm, board a plane, or enter a federal building).

SB957 expands the TVDL to include all those here and driving to be able to do so legally, with insurance.

This legislation is supported by many law enforcement officials because police officers want to know who they are stopping, and they do not like wasting scarce police resources arresting and jailing people because they cannot obtain a driver’s license.

First responders and hospitals support this legislation because it helps them identify who they are treating. Business supports this legislation because these immigrants are an important part of our economy.

I know that the idea of extending driving privileges to those who are not here legally rankles some.

But as a society we have an obligation to pursue sensible solutions to difficult problems.

No one believes that all of these people will be deported – but the current situation is not good for our economy, for our homeland security, or for the immigrants and their families.

In Illinois SB957 helps us to take one sensible step forward, and the reward is that all our highways will be safer.

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